KHSD holds annual Principal Partners' Day

Shafter High School joined all other schools in the Kern High School District in participating in their annual Principal Partner's Day recently.

This event allows local dignitaries and community members to connect with the their local high schools and observe the operations of them as they work to educate youth and help them become productive citizens.

The event began at each high school in the district as they hosted a breakfast, followed by a tour of their respective schools. The tour included classrooms, cafeteria, library, and the various programs the schools offer.

Shafter High attendees were welcomed by Principal Russell Shipley, which was followed by a livestream broadcast produced by SHS Media students.

Instead of reading a daily bulletin at the beginning of the school day, the students produce a broadcast that gives the students daily information on the activities happening at the school, as well as upcoming sporting events and results of games and matches played the previous day. This program gives the students experience in on-air announcing, as well as editing, post-production and reporting.

According to Shafter High media advisers, the program gives the students valuable experience as they learn how to create a media production. They can use over $250,000 in media equipment, including cameras, editing software, media hardware, and lighting and sound equipment.

Administrators then gave the stage to Shafter's PRIDE staff. These faculty members are a part of an innovative program that gives all students a chance to succeed at the school, no matter their standing in the class. "There are students who need that extra attention as they go through their high school careers. They might be struggling due to either a behavioral issue, or a deficiency in class, that is obstructing their path to success. This program gives those students the attention that they need to turn their lives back in the right direction," said Dean of Students Valerie Labrentz.

The tour of the campus included a look at the Ag Department, which has one of the largest department in the district. There are four Ag Department advisers at the school, with all of them able to help the students with subjects as varied as horticulture, crop sciences, to ag mechanics and animal husbandry.

A large workshop at the school has several state-of-the-art welding cubicles in which the students can practice their craft in an advanced and safe environment. A full metal shop is also available so the students can get experience in the vocation, enabling them to have a hands-on advantage on their fellow high school students at other schools.

According to Shipley, Shafter High School has one of the strongest collection of programs in the district, providing a rigorous and enriching curricular experience in the classroom and out of it. "We pride ourselves on giving our students the best opportunities they can get to prepare them for their careers after high school, as well as the best experiences they can get while here."

SHS has a full slate of Advanced Placement classes as well, challenging the students while preparing them for their collegiate careers. They also have a large number of clubs and activities that the students can get involved in, including everything from foreign language clubs, such as Spanish and French clubs, Running club, Chess Club, to Bible Club and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

The reputation of Shafter High School was on display at the event when a good number of the teachers and faculty employed at the school are Shafter High alumni, as they have returned home to be a part of giving back to their hometown community.

The event continued as several of the attendees traveled to Bakersfield for a lunch with the other schools in the Kern High School District.